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What Leviticus can teach the Church about Autism
Inspired by Mike Bird’s recent article, and the podcast Autism and Theology. As someone living in a family full of neurodiversity and a daughter with a beautifully spicy brain, we are in the trenches, and so I felt compelled to write a response. Michael F. Bird, Autism and the Image of God. Today I am a heartbroken Dad. Yesterday, my daughter told me she doesn’t want to come to church anymore. I stood there in her room, vainly trying to convince her that coming to church is better than the Minecraft videos she was watching on YouTube. You see, my daughter lives with Autism and ADHD. She is what professionals…
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Ethical Intersections: Practical Theology’s Response to Harmful Beliefs
“How many witches have you killed today?” This provocative question is often directed at Agnes, referencing her daily prayers, which she believes ward off or eliminate unseen malevolent forces. Her practice is not mere superstition but, as described by Martin Fishbein and Icek Ajzen,[1] the culmination of beliefs shaped through her experiences. Agnes represents a segment of the Nigerian diaspora that maintains beliefs that appear to lack existential values and morality. The environment we inhabit significantly influences how we present ourselves and interact with others, as we unconsciously adjust our behaviour through gestures, tone of voice, and even movement speed. However, when individuals such as Agnes find themselves in environments…
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Who do you say that I am?
Words don’t come easily – like sorry…. [and] forgive me, forgive me. Tracy Chapman Some years ago I was with a group of Christians and Jews travelling to Israel and Palestine at the invitation of the Council of Christians and Jews. The hope was that by visiting together, each of us carrying our incomplete understanding of the situation in the Holy Land, including of course unconscious cultural, religious and political biases, would see things through others’ eyes and return partially enlightened: gifted with a more nuanced understanding and greater openness to other readings of a notoriously complex situation. In Jericho, an ancient and predominantly Muslim Palestinian city which, nevertheless, for people…
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Two Peoples Living in this Land
Born and raised in the US, I have lived in Jerusalem for over 51 years. For many years, I have been involved in inter-religious and inter-cultural dialogue, and in the Jewish religious peace movement. Israelis – and, I’m told, Jews throughout the world – are still reeling from the brutal atrocities of October 7th. The horrifying, nihilistic attacks were reminiscent of the worst, most painful periods of Jewish history. I would add to that something that has been of grave concern to me, personally, and that is the resurgence of antisemitism in the West, including and perhaps especially on the campuses of North America. I used to have great faith…
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Armed Resistance, Islam, and the Limits of Secular Approaches
Who writes and who doesn’t? I was asked to write about the ongoing assault on Gaza, from a religious perspective (disclaimer: If I write about the topic from a religious perspective, it is not because what we are currently witnessing in Gaza and the region is a religious conflict. Religion may occasionally be part of it, often used strategically by various actors, but at its core, it is a political conflict). One of my first thoughts was if I was the right person to ask. What do I have to contribute that others, especially those most affected by the current violence, could not say better, have not already said better?…
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Reflections on Israel and Gaza after October 7th
When the attack by Hamas occurred on October 7th, I was leading a service for the festival of Simchat Torah, the Rejoicing in the Torah, a particularly joyful day in the Jewish calendar. I had heard there was an attack, and mentioned in the service that we were thinking of those who had been killed, but we had no idea of the full extent or horror of the events of that day. Details emerged over the following days, and then Israel began its attack on Gaza and our television screens were dominated by pictures of the terrible suffering there. Like many of my colleagues and friends, I found myself close…
